The order was handed down Friday in Peoria. It is the latest chapter in a battle between the state's attorney general and police force over the release of names of the state's Firearm Owners Identification cardholders.

Last week, responding to a Freedom of Information request from The Associated Press, Attorney General Lisa Madigan ruled the names are public information and should be disclosed by the state police.

The state police refused to do so and Friday four Peoria-area members of the Illinois State Rifle Association and the association asked Judge Scott Shore to issue the order.

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Updated 4:07 p.m. March 1, 2011 with statement from Illinois State Police

The Illinois State Police released a statement this afternoon in disagreement with the Attorney General's recommendation:

"The Illinois State Police respectfully disagrees with the recent opinion of the Attorney General's Public Access Counselor (PAC) regarding the release of names of Firearm Owner Identification cardholders. The Department intends to request that the PAC issue a binding opinion so that the issue may be resolved through the judicial process."